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Magpies set to swoop on upcoming season

AFTER a busy summer off the field, the Glenorchy District Football Club is set to swoop on season 2022.

In the off-season the Magpies were thrilled to welcome former Premiership coach Aaron Cornelius back to the nest.

The club’s on-field prospects are looking promising, with the signing of Will Brohm from Ocean Grove in Victoria and Blake Waight from University Football Club, and the continued contributions of two-time Best and Fairest winner Ben Kamaric.

The women’s team is also well into pre-season training as it looks to repeat its success in 2021, when it won both the SFL and State Women’s Premierships.

A number of other players, coaches, volunteers and supporters have also been welcomed to the club, along with a new sponsor - international physiotherapy group Kieser.

GDFC president John McCann said 2022 was an exciting year on and off the field for the club, with many young and emerging Magpies likely to get their opportunity in both men’s and women’s football.

“The club has regular involvement in many lives,” he said, “including families associated with football, community outreach, bingo, and many other sporting clubs from a range of codes and community groups and partners that use our new facilities at KGV.

“It is important that more of our large supporter base become members in 2022 to enjoy the benefits of the club, while helping the club to invest in a healthy future for our children and youth.”

Member for Elwick and Magpies supporter Josh Willie said he was excited about the year ahead.

“I’m most proud of the Glenorchy Football Club because of its positive culture and its strong involvement in the local community,” he said.

“Glenorchy is more than a footy club - it is part of the social fabric of the northern suburbs.

“I’m sure with the positive direction off the field, success will be reflected on the field in 2022 and I wish them all the best.”

Club memberships are available at KGV and from www. glenorchymagpies.org. au

The 2022 State League fixture was recently released, with teams to play every other team three times across 21 rounds, before a three-week, four-team finals series.

L-R: New recruit Will Brohm, Josh Willie MLC, Tom Cleary and club president John McCann

From left, Sorell footballer Jeremiah Perkins, RAW Beyond the Sidelines coordinator Darryn Perry, RAW chief executive officer Barb Walters, SFL president Russell Young and Sorell footballer Mark Johnson, at Sorell's Pembroke Park. Photo credit: Connor Munnings Specky for mental health

THE Southern Football League (SFL) has gone beyond the sidelines for mental health, partnering with Rural Alive and Well (RAW) to challenge and change the status quo culture of mental health and wellbeing in its clubs.

Headed by former William Leitch medallist Darryn Perry and former Hawthorn player Shayne Stevenson, the Beyond the Sidelines program will be delivered across all SFL clubs this year.

Developed by RAW over the past 12 months to meet an identified need in community sporting clubs, the Beyond the Sidelines program will offer clubs ongoing practical help to build protective factors aimed at improving people’s mental health and wellbeing.

All RAW programs are evidence-based and delivered within the Prevention First Framework model.

RAW chief executive officer Barb Walters said sessions would be hands-on and would help reduce stigma around mental health and help those that were struggling.

“Suicide is a public issue that requires a coordinated and combined effort, and RAW is proud to be partnering with the SFL to deliver our secondary prevention and early intervention program Beyond the Sidelines in footy clubs across the league,” she said.

“People are ready to start the conversation, but more than that, they’re ready to actually find ways of building those protection factors and getting their hands dirty and working out what to do.”

Ms Walters said football clubs were the heart and soul of most communities, and that the program would benefit everyone around the football club.

“We also know that everyone needs to belong to somewhere and have that connection, and footy clubs are able to do that,” she said.

“Whether you’re a volunteer, an administrator or a player, your welfare is really important.

“RAW’s support goes beyond the sidelines. We have qualified staff who can provide individually tailored support to individuals, to improve their mental health and wellbeing and to navigate the pathway to specialist support services.

“RAW is there for long-term and can be contacted 24/7 by phoning 1800 RAW TAS.”

With an increased focus in recent years on suicide awareness and reducing stigmas, the SFL is leading the way in ensuring that its clubs have the opportunity to build a strong club culture around mental health and wellbeing.

“Mental health and player welfare are the biggest issues facing our game and clubs need help to ensure they have the best practices available to help their players,” SFL president Russell Young said.

“By partnering with RAW, we hope to be able to assist in this process.

“The SFL is a strong community-focused football competition, and the RAW team will assist the SFL in delivering strategies to our players in trying times.”

Sorell Football Club is one of the clubs that has got behind the initiative. Senior coach Fabian Ackroyd said mental health and wellbeing were important issues to raise within clubs.

“We look at football clubs as fundamentally playing footy, but there’s so much more than that,” he said.

“There is a connection to families and footy and this particular program doesn’t just offer support for the footy players, but also offers it for the partners, parents, supporters, everyone that comes to the football club – it’s not just about the 22 guys playing on the ground.”

Local powerlifter Jess McCallum at a recent competition

Paul McIntyre drives one to centre field, playing for White Sox A in a recent game against Nipaluna Pirates. Photo: David Searle Finals spots up for grabs

THE 2021-22 Hobart Baseball regular season is nearly over, with finals starting in the first week of March – but which teams will qualify for the playoffs is still up in the air.

With two rounds to go in the Division One season, reigning premiers Banjos Orioles sit atop the ladder with 18 points, followed closely by the Visionary Carpentry Blue Jays (16 points), the Eastern Athletics (16 points) and the Pirates (14 points). Only the top three teams qualify for the finals.

Orioles allrounder Jason Baurycza continues to dominate with both the bat and the ball, and he is expected to make his presence felt during the last few rounds.

The Athletics have been putting together more consistent performances with Sam Morrison on the mound, but they may come to regret a recent loss to the Pirates.

The Blue Jays have been hardest hit by the loss of players to injury and COVID restrictions, but can never be discounted.

The first-year Pirates are making a late run for the finals, but will need to win their two remaining games against the Orioles and Athletics and also hope other results go their way.

In Division Two, the undefeated White Sox A (28 points) lead from the Visionary Carpentry Grey Jays (24), White Sox B (20), Eastern Athletics (14), Pirates (13), Nipaluna Pirates (11), Banjos Orioles Orange (10) and Visionary Carpentry Blue Jays (18). The top five will play finals, with the first finals scheduled for 9-10 March.

The second-placed Grey Jays appear to have the easiest run home, with games against Nipaluna and Orioles to come, so could still be in the running for the minor premiership if White Sox A slip up.

The Athletics enjoyed impressive late-season victories over the Grey Jays and White Sox B, but their recent loss to Nipaluna Pirates leaves them in a battle for fourth spot and home-ground advantage in the finals.

Nipaulna Pirates are now an outside chance for the finals but have a tough game against the Grey Jays in the next round. If they lose, their finals aspirations will hinge on the result of the Pirates vs Orioles Orange game.

Grand Finals are scheduled for Sunday 27 March.

Local powerlifter has record in her sights

A LOCAL female powerlifter has her sights set on smashing a world record this year, as she prepares for a series of big competitions on the mainland.

Jess McCallum, of New Norfolk, currently holds the Australian deadlift record for women at a whopping 272.5kg.

But she hopes to go to the next level this year and break the world record, which sits at 289kg – about the same weight as four full kegs of beer.

The 41-year old is a relative newcomer to the sport of powerlifting, only starting seriously five years ago after a getfit campaign saw her lose an incredible 140kg.

“I started going to the gym as often as I could and really enjoyed the ‘body pump’ classes which involved weights,” she said.

“I became fit and toned and someone at the gym suggested I might like to try powerlifting. I found I loved the buzz and it went from there.”

As well as dealing with a COVID-related red meat shortage at her local supermarket, Jess must also manage Epilepsy, which presents challenges for all athletes - especially those whose sport involves lifting dangerously heavy weights.

“I have to be careful because having a seizure during training or competition can lead to serious injury,” she said.

“If I were to have a seizure just before a competition, it could literally ruin my chances, no matter how many months I might have trained.”

Jess is aiming to attempt to break the world record at the World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) Nationals 2022, to be held in Devonport in September.

She recently travelled to Werribee for the ‘Raising the Dead’ Whiskey and Deadlifts event; and also plans to compete at ‘ProRaw’ in Melbourne in April and at the CAPO State Titles in Western Australia in May.

But her ability to compete in these leadup competitions and train at the level needed to crack a world record will depend on her ability to raise money to cover her travel costs.

Grassroots funding for local cricket clubs

SEVENTEEN Tasmanian cricket clubs – including North Hobart and New Norfolk District - and indoor cricket centres have shared in more than $50,000 funding from round one of the 2021-22 Grassroots Cricket Fund.

The GCF is a joint initiative between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association which will provide up to $30 million to grassroots cricket organisations across Australia.

The grants can be used to purchase equipment, fund the development of coaches and volunteers and attract new participants to the sport, helping ensure clubs and centres maintain their position as pillars of local communities.

In total, 432 clubs and centres across the country successfully applied for grants and will share in $1.3 million in funding.

A second round of grant applications opened on 14 February, allowing clubs and centres that did not receive a grant in the first round to apply.

The funding can be used to purchase products through GCF partners such the Community Heart Program, Flicx UK and Kookaburra.

“We hope these grants will help clubs and indoor centres best provide a great and inclusive environment in which to play and enjoy our game,” Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja said.

For more information and grant applications, go to grassrootscricketfund. com.au

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JACKS JUMP AT CANCER RESEARCH

L-R Federal Group COO Nick Linnett, ovarian cancer survivor Dr Eloise Foo, UTAS Executive Dean Prof. Denise Fassett, S.H.E Foundation Chair Scott Harris, Liberal MP Madeline Ogilvie and JackJumpers CEO Simon Brookhouse

THE Tasmania JackJumpers’ home “nest” at MyState Bank Arena turned teal for the team’s blockbuster game against the Perth Wildcats on February 28, as the club raised funds and awareness for local gynaecological cancer foundation S.H.E.

A range of fundraising and awareness activities took place in the leadup to and during the ‘Teal Game’ - part of the plan to ‘Turn Tassie Teal’ for February, which is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

Several JackJumpers partners also got involved, with the University of Tasmania and Wrest Point lighting up their buildings in teal during the last week of February; and Metro Tasmanian donating $1 for every passenger who caught its free bus service to the Teal Game.

S.H.E [Support, Hope, Education] raises awareness of the prevalence, detection and severity of gynaecological diseases.

The cause holds special significance to the JackJumpers organisation. Board member Scott Harris is Chair of the S.H.E. Foundation, following his wife Jo’s battle with Stage 4 Ovarian cancer.

“There is such an apparent lack of understanding of gynaecological cancers that so many women in our lives are suffering with,” he said.

“We are absolutely delighted that the JackJumpers are throwing their weight behind awareness and fundraising efforts.

“Our dream at S.H.E is to launch a purposebuilt cancer wellness centre in the centre of Hobart located directly in the hospital precinct.

“This centre will provide a space for Tasmanian cancer sufferers and their families at a time when they need it most.”

Jo Harris spoke to the JackJumpers playing and coaching group at a recent team practice, telling her moving story about her diagnosis, treatment and the impact it has had on her family.

More than 1500 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year and shockingly, the five-year survival rate is just 48 per cent.

“While our players will never experience these cancers themselves, it’s important that they’re educated about the staggering statistics and are equipped to support the females in their life,” JackJumpers CEO Simon Brookhouse said.

“We’re really proud to partner with S.H.E, a local organisation who are doing an incredible amount of work to support women with gynaecological cancers.

“It’s important that we use the platform and engagement we have to help raise awareness for organisations like S.H.E to educate our community and raise funds to support those suffering.”

The JackJumpe rs also recently unveiled their new jerseys for the NBL’s upcoming Indigenous Round, designed by artist Sharnie Read.

Showcasing palawa Tasmanian Aboriginal art as found in rock carvings across the state, the jersey uses cultural symbols like petroglyphs to tell a story that connects the jack jumper insect to ancient aboriginal artwork.

The jerseys are available now via jackjumpers.com.au

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